The Paston Letters, A.D. 1422-1509. Volume 3 (of 6)

The Paston Letters offer an intimate glimpse into the turbulent world of a rising gentry family in mid‑fourteenth‑century England. Through candid missives between brothers, cousins and allies, listeners hear the everyday concerns of land disputes, marriage negotiations, and the shifting loyalties of powerful patrons such as the Earl of Salisbury, the Duke of York, and the king’s own councilors. The letters are written in the raw, unpolished handwriting of the era, preserving the urgency, humor and occasional frustration of a household trying to secure its fortunes amid war and political intrigue.

In this third volume, the correspondence centers on William Paston’s 1454 letter to his brother John, where he reports news from London, discusses potential matches for his sister, and navigates the complex web of royal service. The exchange also includes a brief note from Sir John Fastolf, revealing the legal and property matters that occupied the family’s attention. Together, these documents animate a bygone age, letting listeners hear the voices of people who lived, loved, and fought for survival in a world on the brink of the Wars of the Roses.